In the late hours of a Sunday in August 2016, the life of 83-year-old Eddie Walker of Memphis, Tennessee, was tragically cut short in a violent carjacking. The elderly man was returning from his job at a local nightclub when he was shot and killed outside his home in the 2000 block of Prospect in South Memphis just before 1:00 a.m. His stolen 2005 Ford Taurus was later involved in a hit-and-run in North Mississippi, which led to the capture of two suspects.
The community mourned the loss
of Walker, a beloved figure in the Whitehaven neighborhood, affectionately known as the 'Mayor of Whitehaven' and the 'C.E.O.' of the Piccadilly Restaurant on Elvis Presley Boulevard, where he was a daily patron with a reserved table. He was remembered as a father of four and a skilled upholsterer who also worked at the Classic Soul and Classic Hits nightclubs. Friends and family were shocked that a man of his age would be the victim of such a violent crime.
The investigation swiftly led to the arrests of Ladarius Montgomery, 21 at the time, and his brother, Devonnell Montgomery. Ladarius Montgomery confessed to the shooting and was charged with first-degree murder, especially aggravated robbery, and carjacking. The second individual found in Walker's car, Devonnell Montgomery, was initially held on charges of receiving stolen property and being a fugitive.
For years, the case moved slowly through the justice system, causing anguish for Walker's family who eagerly awaited a resolution. The trial for Ladarius Montgomery was repeatedly delayed. Finally, in December 2024, eight years after the murder, Ladarius Montgomery, then 29, accepted a plea deal. He pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of second-degree murder and received a sentence of 24 years in prison, with an additional three years for a separate burglary charge. During the sentencing, Walker's family had the opportunity to confront their loved one's killer in court, expressing their profound grief and anger over a loss that had forever changed their lives. Devonnell Montgomery was reported to have served a federal prison sentence and was in state prison for separate carjacking charges.
